That's the approach that Jeff Shirk is using this fall as he
begins his first season as men's lacrosse coach at Washington
College. Over 70 players reported for the first team meeting of the
year, and midway through fall ball he still has 55 players
practicing. With more cuts to make, Shirk just wants to make sure
he has the right guys in the program heading into the spring.

"Our priority has been on making evaluations," said Shirk, who
left VMI after four seasons to become the new head coach in
Chestertown following the departure of J.B. Clarke. "We're not as
concerned about executing plays perfectly or having the right
clears in place right now. We're looking for players who are going
to separate themselves. Our focus is to finalize the roster and
identify the right personnel."

In the process of doing that, Shirk has placed a premium on
attitude this fall, hoping that the right mindset will also pay
dividends. The Shoremen have advanced past the NCAA tournament's
quarterfinal round just once since winning the Division III
national championship in 1998. Work ethic, dedication, a commitment
in the weight room and even class attendance are among the criteria
that Shirk has put under the microscope.

"We're looking for the right pieces on and off the field," he
said. "I think the attitude of the players has been good, but
there's always room to improve. I'm a believer that the right
attitude is a difference maker."

Shirk said he has been pleased to see that several of the
returning players have already transitioned to the changes that he
and the new coaching staff have implemented. He acknowledged that
adjusting to a new system with different terminology can be a bit
daunting when a new regime takes over.

"Sometimes, that's tougher for returning players than for
newcomers," Shirk said. "When things get difficult, it's easier to
revert to what you know from the past. But it's all about creating
a foundation for the future. Hopefully, constant repetition will
reinforce those changes."

Returning midfielder and team MVP Doug Herdegen (29g, 7a), along
with junior defensemen Bryan Botti and Jack Vermeil, are among
players that have already "bought in to what we're trying to do,"
Shirk said.

The players, however, are not the only ones adjusting to
changes. In addition to the process of relocating his young family,
Shirk, 32, is also learning to manage a larger staff than the one
he had at VMI and adjust to less practice time.

"There's lots of moving pieces," he said. "As coaches, we meet
on a daily basis and we have to make sure that we are structured
and organized. It's about getting to know the players. I have been
pleasantly surprised to see that we have a little more ability than
I thought."

FALL BALL BLITZ

Team: Washington College2010 Record: 4-10 (2-6 Centennial)

2010 In Review: The Shoremen suffered their
first losing season since 1995, including losses in seven of their
last eight games to end the season. While youth and injuries were
among the primary obstacles to overcome, it didn't help that a
preseason hazing incident cast a cloud over the season before the
first game was even played.

Goodbye... J.B. Clarke. After 12 seasons,
Clarke resigned as head coach on May 12. Under his leadership,
Washington College amassed a 138-63 overall record and made seven
NCAA tournament appearances. Alumni grew impatient, however, since
the Shoremen have not won the Centennial Conference title since
2003 and have lost 10 straight in the annual "War on the Shore"
rivalry to Salisbury.

Hello... Shirk is hesitant to highlight
newcomers this early in his tenure, but he did mention freshman
goalie Ted DiSalvo (Boca Raton, Fla.) as a player who adds good
depth to the position. Sophomore returnee Matt Miller, who started
10 of 14 games in 2010, appears to still be the number one guy, but
Shirk said DiSalvo "has lots of potential."

Offseason Developments: Shirk spent the summer
rounding out his coaching staff, adding Andrew Delaney, J.L.
Reppert and Ian Shure as assistants. Delaney offers the most
familiarity with the Centennial Conference, having played
collegiately for fellow conference school Franklin & Marshall.
He spent the last three years as the defensive coordinator at
Limestone College.

Big Question: Will Shirk and his staff
effectively identify the players who will become part of the new
foundation for the program? The focus has been primarily on the
defensive end of the field through fall ball, but Shirk will also
need to find some playmakers who can help the team improve on last
year's paltry 7.8 goals per game average.

Fall Schedule: The
Shoremen will line up against their alumni team for a scrimmage
Saturday (Oct. 2), then take part in a three team round robin at
Stevenson University on Oct. 17 that will also include
Scranton.